Had a similar situation

Finally had to buy a refundable airline ticket to redeem points

Glad I'm seeing this now. I use the Arrival+ as my primary card but I need something with good dispute protection as my primary. I've had great luck with Citi so I guess I'll move back to them, since Amex isn't accepted everywhere and it's a pain to constantly ask if merchants accept it.

+1

I just had my first experience with the Barclays dispute department and they are basically useless. It was so bad I'm seriously considering switching cards. The 2.2% is great, and the website is easy to use, but their buyer protection is basically zero.

My wife made some photo purchase online. Apparently in doing so, she agreed to a subscription plan and the company never notifies you of when the trial period ends and the subscription starts, they just start billing you. I call the company trying to cancel but was unable to get through. So I called Barclays and get to their dispute department. The rep was actually yawning on the phone while she told me that there was nothing she could do. She said I'd have to call the merchant and work it out with them. Luckily after a few more calls, I was able to get through to the merchant. And through a good deal of back and forth and threats of a chargeback (they didn't know Barclays didn't care) they agreed to refund the subscription fee since it had never been used and the trial period wasn't clear.

Obviously this could have all been avoided had my significant other unchecked the small box which was prechecked agreeing to the subscription. But in the past under similar situations, other CC providers have been much more user friendly. Over the years, I've had to file disputes with AMEX, Discover, and Citi and each one was easy to deal with and helpful. Not a ton, maybe 1 a year, and a couple didn't end in my favor, but each company at least pretended that they were on my side. They would at least begin the process and put a hold on the transaction while getting more details from the merchant and myself. I've never been told, "sorry, we can't help you, you have to call the merchant and work it out". So their buyer protection effectively is the same as if I had paid cash.

Fortunately this charge was small so even if it had not worked out, no big deal. But I will definitely think twice before using the Barclays card for any significant purchases.

I just used the dispute dept for the first time today. For an Airbnb charge. Can't believe I had to call just to file and the rep was trying to figure out what to file it under. Don't have high hopes for it but at least the difference is just $25 or so...

My first run-in with the dispute center will be my last, because i'll never own another barclay card. Agent was rude, interrupted me constantly, and made a comment to the effect of trying to explain this to me so i'll "understand". I went off. I've never gotten that irrate with someone over the phone before. Piss-poor bank that I'll never deal with again.

I had no problems with my recent dispute. Handled very professionaly and closed in about 2.5 weeks

You'd be the exception I guess. Mine ended terribly as well.

I had a dispute last month. My account was credited properly the next day. Another dispute last year was also credited in a reasonable amount of time with little hassle on my part.

Barclays has botched my dispute horribly. Words don't describe.

I can definitely stand in agreement and say stay the hell away from despegar, we had a similar nightmare experience with them when booking a hotel in Costa Rica. Used the Barclays card to try and get a dispute going. Both companies are completely useless. Despegar no speaky any English and Barclays is just as incompetent. I have already begun to slowly disaassociate myself with Barclays altogether #notafan